It was a long journey to the Ute country, and when they reached it there was a stubbornly contested fight. Both sides claimed the victory, and both lost several men. Here again Antelope was signally favored by the gods of war. He counted many coups or blows, and exhibited his bravery again and again in the charges, but he received no wound.
On the return journey Taluta’s beautiful face was constantly before him. He was so impatient to see her that he hurried on in advance of his party, when they were still several days’ travel from the Sioux camp.
“This time I shall join in all the dances and participate in the rejoicings, for she will surely like to have me do so,” he thought to himself. “She will join also, and I know that none is a better dancer than Taluta!”
In fancy, Antelope was practicing the songs of victory as he rode alone over the vast wild country.
He had now passed Wild Horse Creek and the Black Hills lay to the southeast, while the Big Horn range loomed up to the north in gigantic proportions. He felt himself at home.
“I shall now be a man indeed. I shall have a wife!” he said aloud.
At last he reached the point from which he expected to view the distant camp. Alas, there was no camp there! Only a solitary teepee gleamed forth upon the green plain, which was almost surrounded by a quick turn of the River of Deep Woods. The teepee appeared very white. A peculiar tingling sensation passed through his frame, and the pony whinnied often as he was urged forward at a gallop.
When Antelope beheld the solitary teepee he knew instantly what it was. It was a grave! Sometimes a new white lodge was pitched thus for the dead, who lay in state within upon a couch of finest skins, and surrounded by his choicest possessions.
Antelope’s excitement increased as he neared the teepee, which was protected by a barricade of thick brush. It stood alone and silent in the midst of the deserted camp. He kicked the sides of his tired horse to make him go faster. At last he jumped from the saddle and ran toward the door. There he paused for a moment, and at the thought of desecrating a grave, a cold terror came over him.
“I must see—I must see!” he said aloud, and desperately he broke through the thorny fence and drew aside the oval swinging door.